Demystifying Holiday Planning (Ideas to Get You Inspired)

Planning a holiday is so much fun. But it can also be hard work in trying to decide what to do. There are so many amazing places in the world offering amazing things that sometimes we can get lost in the decision making. When you do plan your holiday, it is great to think about the sort of thing you are looking for in your trip. Different holidays offer different experiences so think carefully about what you want. To help you get started, here are a few ideas to get you inspired.

City break

Good for: people who only have a short time to spend away

Sometimes we get swept up in trying to plan a holiday to a far flung destination. If you don’t have much holiday leave, and would like to fit a short holiday into a long weekend, city breaks are the way to do this. If you live in the US, think about visiting cities you have never been to before. Try places that you think would feel a lot different to home. Throughout Europe too there are hundreds of beautiful cities waiting to be explored. One of my favourite European cities has to be London. When I lived there for a year, I absolutely fell in love with it and would recommend it to anyone. Other great options include Paris, Rome, Budapest or Reykjavik.

Outdoor adventure

Good for: people who love keeping fit and active.

If you spend most of your days stuck indoors and glued to your desk, an outdoor adventure is such a good choice. You can enjoy fresh air and fun activities. Try things like hiking, canoeing and camping to bring out your wild side. In the States alone you will find so many incredible destinations for the outdoors lifestyle. Yosemite National Park near San Francisco is perfect for hikers and bikers. The Grand Canyon boasts white water rafting for adrenaline junkies. Going further afield, you could look towards Europe too. England, Wales and Scotland all have stunning mountain ranges to climb. The Three Peaks challenge is something you could set yourself.

When you come to planning your outdoor adventure, be sure to make sure you have all the right gear and equipment before you set out on your journey. For more advice on outdoor activities and adventures, check out Ridgemont, the adventure outfitters.

Beach holiday

Good for: people who want to relax

If you find yourself working long hours, the last thing you want to do is go on a holiday that involves hard work. A beach holiday is the perfect option for anyone who wants to chill out on their holidays. You can top up your tan and catch up on your reading list. If you do plan a beach holiday, do research into the weather at the time of year you are planning on travelling. The last thing you want to do is to be sat on a beach in the pouring rain. There are many beautiful beach destinations around the world. Mexico and the Caribbean boast stunning white-sand beaches. An escape to a picture perfect beach will leave you well-rested and your friends green with envy.

Wellness holiday

Good for: people who want to destress

If you haven’t thought about a wellbeing holiday, it might be time to begin. If you live a very hectic lifestyle and would love the time to detach from it all, this is the holiday for you. Wellbeing holidays range from spa breaks in luxurious hotels to relaxing yoga and meditation retreats. You can head to a resort where you can indulge yourself in incredible beauty therapies and treatments. Asia boasts great destinations for these kinds of holidays. In places like Thailand and Indonesia you can experience the magic of healing therapies and massages.

Winter sporting holiday

Good for: people with a sense of adventure

Skiing and snowboarding holidays are becoming more and more popular. If you have never skied before, it is certainly something you should try. Skiing is supposed to be easier to pick up than snowboarding. Typically you spend more time falling over when you are learning to snowboard than you do to ski. However, once you have picked it up, both are equally as fun.

Skiing and snowboarding offer a great mixture of sporting activity and partying. Many people go for the apres ski which is the tradition of going for a drink at local bars after a hard day of skiing. Often this will turn into an all-night party. Many people will stay out all night partying and then get up early to hit the slopes. Whilst this is really fun, it is also quite a hectic way to spend your holiday.

Across the world you will find great ski resorts. Much of Europe boasts great slopes including France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.  In the US you can head to places like Utah and Aspen, or the neighbor country Canada. On top of this, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are also great for winter sports.

Winter sports holidays tend to be quite expensive. If you aren’t travelling with a family, it is best to go outside of the school holiday periods as you may find this a bit cheaper.

A backpacking holiday

Good for: people looking to discover many places

Going on holiday doesn’t mean you just have to stay in one place. If you have a long holiday, you could consider backpacking through a country. Or even several if you have the time. This is a great way to fully explore a place and get a feel for its culture. You will feel like you have seen everything there is to see rather than a few small snippets.

If you don’t like the sound of backpacking, you could consider flashpacking instead. This is the same idea as backpacking, only you do it with a bit more style. You would spend a little extra on luxuries like nicer hotels and better standards of travel.

Whatever type of holiday you choose, I’m sure you will have an incredible time.

Which is your kind of holiday?

[All photos are mine.]